| I have been going through a large number of rose catalogues recently and notice that many nurseries promote that fact that they sell "own-root" roses. What are the advantages of these roses, if any? |
| Own-root roses seem to be the way of the future with shrub roses. This means that the roses are not grafted onto a different rose rootstock. They are very hardy, and they don't produce suckers. If the rose dies back to the ground in a hard winter, it will come back true-to-type when it resprouts. A rose grafted onto a rootstock will often sprout from only the rootstock if it dies back in the winter, and rootstocks are not usually desirable roses. In other words, if you can order a rose on its own roots, you'll have a better plant. Also, keep in mind that hybrid teas aren't typically available on their own roots. |
